CHAPTER XII.
I have said something of the same kind before; but I must repeat that,unless it be in a mud cottage containing one room, and at the most twoindividuals, it scarcely ever happens that there are not several, veryvarious scenes proceeding in the same house, at the same time; andwhen the house is large, and the inhabitants many, these scenes aremultiplied and diversified even to infinity. Tragedy and comedy, broadfarce and startling romance, have each their separate chambers, andtheir several actors; and while, in the halls of the Ch?teau ofMarzay, all the cunning drama of intrigue which we have described,found a stage, the acts of many another play were being performed inthe chambers allotted to the servants.
Loud and uproarious merriment had its part; and, as is too frequentlythe case, the vices and follies of their superiors were imitated bythe inferiors, presenting pictures too gross and unpleasant to begiven in this place. We must, however, turn away from the principalpersonages of our tale, to notice some events which took place, duringthe hour of supper, in a part of the ch?teau somewhat distant fromthat in which Monsieur de Liancourt's family was assembled.
In a room not far from that of Mademoiselle d'Albret, with the doorajar, a lamp upon the table, and a piece of embroidery in her hands,sat Blanchette, the maid of our fair friend Rose. She paid but littleattention to her work indeed, though she affected to be very busilyemployed, but her ear was turned frequently towards the passage,apparently listening for every sound. At length it was gratified byhearing a step; and the moment after, the valet of Monsieur de Chazeulpushed open the door, and entering the room, closed it behind him. Hewas a tall swaggering, debauched-looking personage, and into theparticulars of the first greetings between himself and Blanchette, Ishall beg leave not to enter. Suffice it to say, that they betokened adegree of intimacy which Rose d'Albret had certainly not the slightestidea existed between her maid and any other person.
After a while, however, the valet inquired, "Well now, tell me, mypretty Blanchette, all that your mistress has been saying to youto-day."
"Indeed, I shall not," replied the maid, with a shrug of theshoulders. "I don't intend to tell you, or Monsieur de Chazeul,anything more."
"Come, come, don't be silly," cried the man, "for I must soon getback; now the caprices of you ladies," he continued, with an affectedair, "are very pretty and interesting in affairs of love, but verytroublesome in matters of business."
"Well, I shan't say anything more," said Blanchette, with a determinedair, "so there is no use of talking about it."
"Ah, ha, then," rejoined the valet, "I see how it is; your mistresshas told you not to tell."
"Indeed, she has not," answered Blanchette; "but she has taught me tovalue myself more highly than your master does."
"How so?" demanded her companion; "I am sure my master values you ashighly as I should like to see him. What did she say to you about it?"
"Ah, I don't mind telling you that," said the maid. "She asked me lastnight, when I was saying something in favour of Monsieur de Chazeul,what he had given me; and, when I told her, she said she was worthmore than that, and that I was a great fool if ever I opened my mouthabout him again, unless I got three times as much."
"Upon my word the lady has some notion of life," cried the valet; "onewould think she had spent her whole days in Paris; and she is righttoo, Blanchette, we servants should never put too low a value onourselves, for we have more in our power than people imagine. However,I can promise you that when Monsieur de Chazeul is married to yourlady, you shall have three times as much; and in the meantime--"
"Ay, ay," replied Blanchette; "a fish in the plate is worth three inthe stream, Alphonso. Promises are made of wind, and it is verydifficult to convert them into anything else."
"Well, but listen to me," said the man. "I was just going to say, inthe meantime Monsieur le Marquis has sent you five and-twenty crowns.Here they are," and he placed a little leathern bag in her hand; "now,there's a dear, beautiful girl, tell me all your mistress has said toyou to-day, especially after her long talk with Monsieur de Montigni,this morning."
"That is soon told," answered Blanchette, putting the money in one ofthe pockets of her apron; "she said nothing at all, except that shehad got a headache, and would go to bed again."
"_Peste!_" cried the valet; "is that all the news that you can give?Surely you have made out something more. What humour did she seem in?"
"Bad enough," replied Blanchette; "I think Monsieur de Montigni musthave done or said something to offend her, for I could see she hadbeen crying, and she was silent and dull, just as she is when she isangry with me."
"I dare say he did," rejoined the valet; "for he is an obstinate colt,and takes as long to drive where people want him, as an ass loadedwith sand--But hark, there is some one walking in the passage."
They listened, and a heavy step sounded along the corridor, advancingin measured time from one end to the other, and then back again, likethat of a sentry keeping guard. It passed and repassed twice, not alittle to the annoyance of the two worthies shut up in the roomtogether. But at length the valet, who did not wish his absence to beremarked and commented upon amongst the servants, declared, "Whoeverit is, I must go; but do you shut the door after me quickly,Blanchette, then no one need know that you are here."
"I am afraid Mademoiselle will call every moment," answered the girl;"but people must have time to take their supper, you know."
"I must go, upon my life," said the man, who took a great deal moreinterest in his own position than in hers. "Now, Blanchette, I willpop out as soon as he is passed; you close the door quick behind me,and he will not see whence I come."
He accordingly waited till the steps sounded close to the door, andthen as soon as they had gone by, opened it, and went out asnoiselessly as possible. But his footfall did not escape the quickears of the old soldier, Estoc, who turning instantly, not onlyperceived who it was, but also marked the room from which he came. Hesaid nothing, however; but, as soon as the valet had left the passage,advanced at once to the door which had just been closed, and, openingit without ceremony, went in. As may be supposed, this suddenapparition troubled the maid a good deal; and, though an impudent andunprincipled girl, she was not yet sufficiently veteran in vice tokeep her cheek from growing red, or her hands from shaking.
"Well, Mademoiselle Blanchette," said Estoc, "I thought I should findyou here."
"Indeed, Sir!" said Blanchette. "I generally sit here."
"Not always, Blanchette," replied Estoc; "but I saw your lover leaveyou, and so I came in, just to give you a word of advice." Blanchettecoloured and bit her lip, but made no reply; and Estoc went on, "youare in the wrong line, if you wish to make your fortune, Mademoiselle.Now, if you will follow my counsel, you may do something for yourself.Go up to Monsieur de Montigni's apartments about eleven o'clockto-night, for he wants to speak with you."
"Lord! Monsieur Estoc," cried the girl; "I would not go up to anygentleman's room at night for the world. I wonder how you couldpropose such a thing!"
"Oh! I make no difficulty in proposing it," answered Estoc, "when youmake none in receiving a gentleman's valet at night.--But Monsieur deMontigni only wants to speak with you on business, to ask you one ortwo questions, and, perhaps, to make you a present of a couple ofhundred crowns."
"I am very much obliged to him, Sir," replied the girl, affecting acold and modest air; "but I would rather speak to him in the day, ifhe has no objection."
"That can't well be, Blanchette," answered Estoc; "for Monsieur deMontigni intends to go away to-morrow; and he will not have timeprevious to his departure. Now, my good girl, remember you are in mypower, for don't you suppose that, if this business comes to the earsof Mademoiselle d'Albret, you will stay in her service a minuteafter."
"Well, I have done nothing that's wrong," replied the girl, boldly;"and I don't care what any spy says of me, not I."
"Well, we understand each other," rejoined Estoc. "Give me an answerin one word, will you come, or
will you not? Your reply will decideyour own fate."
"Well, Sir, well," said Blanchette, who saw that the plan of outfacingthe old soldier would not succeed; "I will come if you will be theretoo."
"Oh, that I certainly shall," replied Estoc; "for I have got somepapers to look over with Monsieur de Montigni--so I may tell him youwill come?"
"Yes, Sir," replied Blanchette, "I will;" and, with a significant nodof the head, Estoc left the room.
Without going near the supper hall, he retired at once to theapartments of De Montigni, where he waited for about half an hour,till he was joined by the young nobleman, to whom he related all thathad taken place. "The girl is not to be depended upon," he added inthe end, "and I think it would be better when we have got her, to lockher up here for the night."
"Nay," answered De Montigni, "that were a violent proceeding. I havetold my servant Joseph to watch her well, and we shall hear hisreport. If I find that she has been holding any communication withthese people, since you saw her, we must devise some means to blindher eyes. But, now Estoc, is all the rest prepared?"
"Everything," replied the old soldier. "I have the guard tonight; andI have picked my men from those who will not fail us. Your servantshave their orders; and, were it needful, we could make all the restprisoners in the castle here; but that you would not like to do."
"Certainly not," replied De Montigni. "I think at present they have nosuspicion and I trust that we shall be able to execute our schemewithout either difficulty or strife. Be with me when this girl comes,Estoc, and now go and take some refreshment; but above all thingscaution my good uncle Michael to make no effort to see me to-night,and to seek repose at his usual hour. Depend upon it there arewatchful eyes upon us; and, of all things, we most avoid suspicion."
While he was speaking, a sunburnt man who had accompanied him fromItaly, made his appearance, and bowing low with a smile, he said, "Ihave watched and listened to some purpose, Monsieur le Baron. As soonas supper was over, Mademoiselle Blanchette drew aside Alphonso, theMarquis's valet, and whispered with him long in the corner of thehall; I saw they were very eager, but could hear nothing; and as I wasresolved to know more, I crossed suddenly behind her back, just as theman was saying 'I will wait for you at the bottom of the stairs.' Icould hear no more, for they both stopped."
"That is enough, that is enough," replied De Montigni, "we must remedythis, Estoc; but I will have the whole plan ready, when you comeagain."
At half past ten, Estoc was in the young nobleman's room; and ateleven, Blanchette might be seen creeping stealthily up the stairswith a lamp in her hand, while in the dark corridor below, concealedin one of the recesses of the windows, stood Chazeul's valet, waitingfor her return. Almost all the rest of the household had retired tobed; and the ch?teau remained perfectly silent for a quarter of anhour, while the man continued his watch in darkness. At the end ofthat time, however, Blanchette and her lamp were once more seen uponthe stairs; and, whispering to him as she passed, "Quick, quick, oldEstoc is coming down directly, he is now speaking to the Baron at thedoor," she hastened on, through that passage, across the lower hall,and up a short flight of steps towards the apartments of Chazeul. Thevalet followed quickly, and introduced her into the dressing room ofhis lord, who was waiting with some impatience for the intelligenceshe was to bring.
"Well, well," he cried, as soon as she appeared, "what is it hewishes, Blanchette? Let us hear all that took place."
"When first I came in," said Blanchette after a pause to take breath,and a little coquettish panting and holding her hand upon her heart,"Monsieur de Montigni spoke me very fair, and promised a great deal.He said he knew that I was in your interest, Sir, and he did not wishme to betray my trust, but that he was very anxious indeed to have anhour's private conversation with Mademoiselle before noon to-morrow.He asked me if she was yet asleep; and when I told him she was, andhad been so for these two hours, he turned to Estoc and said, 'that isinfortunate;' he then looked again to me, and calling me close to him,he spoke almost in a whisper, saying, that if I would engage to gethim the interview early to-morrow, before the rest of the people arestirring, he would give me two hundred crowns, and, as an earnest, putthese into my hand. He told me particularly to be very secret, and notto say a word to any one, which of course I promised as much as hecould wish."
"You did quite right, you did quite right," replied Chazeul; "but didhe let you know what was his object in seeking this interview? He musthave said something more, for you were long with him."
"Oh, I asked him, noble Sir," replied the girl, "what I was to tell mymistress, he wished to see her for; but he replied somewhat sharply,that it was no business of mine; and then I said I was sureMademoiselle d'Albret would ask; but that if he did not like to say,it was not my fault if he did not get the meeting he wanted; and thenhe replied that if my mistress did inquire, I was to tell her hewanted to hear more explicitly from her own lips what he had not timefully to understand in the morning."
Chazeul laughed; "The poor youth writhes like an eel upon a spear," hesaid; "he would fain make one more effort; but we will not let him.Now mark me, Blanchette, not one word of this to your mistress. Shehas been too much agitated to-day; and we must not have the samescenes every morning. She made herself clearly enough understood forany man of common sense; and by that Monsieur de Montigni must abide.I will not forget you, Blanchette if you are faithful and discreet;and it is no bad post, premiere demoiselle to the Marchioness ofChazeul. So now, go to bed and sleep, and contrive to forget Monsieurde Montigni's commission before to-morrow morning."
"That I will, Monsieur," replied Blanchette; and with a courtesy shequitted the room.